Sydney housing crisis : An auctioneer’s post about the sale of a $1.5 million Sydney home to an Afghan family has gone viral — but for troubling reasons.
The Block” auctioneer Tom Panos revealed that the online backlash against the Afghan buyers highlights the growing frustration among locals who feel shut out of Sydney’s overheated property market.
The four-bedroom Guildford property went under the hammer last Saturday, with an estimated value of around $1.49 million, according to RP Data.
Mr Panos, who conducted the auction, shared a post celebrating that the home had been “sold to a wonderful family who immigrated from Afghanistan.
However, the announcement quickly gained traction on X (formerly Twitter), where some users left resentful comments suggesting the family may have received financial assistance from Australian taxpayers or even the Afghan government.
Afghan Family’s $1.5 Million Sydney Home Purchase Sparks Online Backlash
How can a family who’s just moved from Afghanistan afford a million-dollar home in Western Sydney?” one Australian user questioned in a post that has now been viewed over 360,000 times.
They’re stepping into one of the world’s most inflated housing markets and somehow outbidding locals who’ve lived here their whole lives,” the user added.
According to Mr Panos, racist remarks like these often surface whenever property prices surge.
I’m no longer surprised — I see comments like this almost every week on my posts,” he said. “It’s been happening for a couple of years now, and it always seems to flare up when the market heats up and frustrated buyers keep missing out.
Social Media Users Question How New Migrants Can Afford Sydney Homes
Based on his experience, Mr Panos said most migrants manage to buy homes through determination and hard work rather than any form of government support.
Many of these families live with relatives or friends while saving for a deposit. They often juggle two jobs, stick to very tight budgets, and focus on one goal — putting a roof over their family’s heads and making the most of the opportunities Australia offers,” he explained.
Housing Crisis, Not Racism, Driving Public Anger
He also acknowledged the frustration felt by Australian-born buyers. “To me, this isn’t so much about racism as it is about the deep frustration caused by Australia’s ongoing housing crisis.
The property’s selling agent, Steven Khawam, described the Afghan family as “some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
They’re incredibly humble and truly deserve their place here — just wonderful people,” Mr Khawam said. He noted that while Western Sydney does have instances of cash buyers who may be exploiting government incentives, this family was not among them.
Real Estate Agent Praises the Afghan Family’s Integrity
In my opinion, families like this absolutely deserve to be here — unlike others who manipulate the system to get benefits, he added.
Sydney’s median house price currently sits at around $1.58 million, having risen 3.8 per cent over the past year. Prices are expected to climb even higher following the Albanese government’s new 5 per cent deposit scheme.
Australia’s Housing and Migration Pressures Intensify
While the policy aims to help first-home buyers enter the market, many economists have warned it could fuel demand and push property prices further out of reach.
Australia’s migration levels have also become a heated cultural issue, sparking debates about housing shortages and infrastructure strain. The tension has even led to anti-immigration protests across the country — some of which have been infiltrated by neo-Nazi groups.
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In the year to March, net overseas migration added 315,900 people to Australia’s population. The previous year saw 493,800 new arrivals, down from the 2023 record of 518,000.
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